365 Days & Then?

I’m in my last year here in Naples! It’s funny. Only in the past few months have I began to feel truly set up in my house. No. I guess I don’t have that skill all you military folks have of unpacking within a month because you know it’s so very temporary…

Most days Monterey seems a million years ago, a different life time, a fading memory. Other mornings however, I wake up with a Monterey memory on my mind that feels like it just took place.

Some days life in Italy is too much of a struggle with the cultural differences, language barriers, and rush hour traffic. But then there are those days, and luckily they’re most days, when I’m still amazed by the sunrise over Vesuvio, shocked to be driving under a crumbling aqueduct on my way to work, and in love with the hundreds of quirks that make Naples Bella Napoli.

The past 2 years I've traveled bumpy roads, discovered the beauty of round-a-bouts, found myself at a few dead ends, slowed down to enjoy the back roads, flown down the smooth roads while always keeping in mind that there is more than 1 way to reach my destination. I’ve pushed myself to do some crazy things. I’ve explored new places, tried new foods, met new people, acquired fabulous new shoes, learned new skills, increased my caffeine consumption, and traveled more miles than I care to count.

Problem is as fabulous as this experience has been it’s got to come to an end eventually. I have 365ish days left. So then what?

I have no freaking clue. (Queue freak-out.)

Thanks Mom and Dad for reminding me that you all want me back in the USA daily while out here.

The Monterey Option: It’s a bad option, but it’s an option none the less. I’ve already worked through the reasons I should not return. Monterey folks, don’t take this the wrong way! It’s not you- I promise. Remember how badly I wanted out? That’s nothing compared to my reaction when thinking about returning.

The Stay in Naples Option (1 or 2 years): It is an option M&D. Job satisfaction? Eh. Travel opportunities? Fabulous. Finacially? Decent. Social life? Eh…everyone is leaving me. A promition may be in line...

Option #3: Well, pretty much anywhere else MSC or any other DoD agency is. So that whole "the world is your oyster" saying? It's true. As long as it doesn't get too impacted by the current budget climate and silly overseas rules.

Now do you understand my freakout even this far out from when the decision needs to be made? Compound that with my longing for baseball games and Target stores, the fact that I really have no clue if I want to stay in my current job series or try something new, the hope that Mr. Right is out there in his Giants ball cap, and my control freak nature?

Mamma Mia...dammi il vino.

Piano, piano. Here I am again rushing to the next thing, and although these are all major decision that need to be figured out within the next several months I'm still in Italy and guess what? I have to maximize the fun between now and the day I leave. Now if you excuse me, I've got a bunch of Europe to see.

Ciao e amore a tutti!  

Il gattino ha uno anno

Look who is 1! Okay, maybe he's older than that, but today we celebrated his "Gotcha Day." It makes me smile to think about how much he's grown and changed over the last year...

Granted, he still loves the fire place but no longer as a place to hide, but as his main route in/out of the kitchen.

Crinkling paper still produces the better results than calling his name, but he knows his name (and all the variations of it).

Mr. Rat is now approx 1/5 his size, rather than 1/2.

And perhaps most important, my Little Prince has learned to share attention and even make friends (both feline and human) so he had a few guests over to join his celebration!

One Year!

It's amazing to look at at the calendar and realize that I'm already into year #2 here in Italy. I know some had doubts that I could really make it to this point (even I did in my weaker moments) but like I said when leaving Monterey- "I can do anything for a year."

And that's exactly what I've done.

Although the job is very much routine at this point (and bordering boredom some days) life here in Naples is anything but. You'd think I'd be used to this crazy city life but I still find myself laughing or asking "did I really just see that?" as I navigate the roads. Honestly I don't think any of it will ever come routine, and if it does it just means it's time to move on!

There are things that I loved as soon as I arrived and still love them now: gelato in various flavors, fresh pizza on just about every block, the kindness of the people (unless you're trying to merge...then good luck!), tiny coffee cups, not having to commit to a certain lane on the road. 

Some of the quirks have grown on me: creative use of emergency SOS spaces on the side of the road, the lack of obeying traffic laws, shutting everything down after lunch, coffee breaks every hour, dressing up to run weekend errands, dramatic conversations, beeping at every intersection to let others know you are there.

Then again there are still some things that I just don't understand coming from the states like, why can't I have a garbage disposal? What do you mean it's normal to have paint chip/peel of the walls? Wait. You just let your cat/dog out to fend for itself when you go away in August? Dinner starts at 9- that's my bed time! What's the reason for the strike this time?

All I know is I've got my work cut out for me. I've managed to see and do a lot this past year but somehow there is still a ton of Naples I have yet to explore! If year one flew by this quickly, you better believe years 2 and 3 will do the same. Lucky for me, my summer line up of guests start off with my siblings so you know we're going to go to some major exploring!